Sources/Experiences with Hi-Mod fittings?

[Feral Cement]

It's time to re-rig my Catalina 27, and Hi-mod fittings have been recommended for their strength and reuseable design. Where's a good (relatively cheap) place to get them? And if you have any installation tips, I'd love to hear your info.

Thanks!

John

[B-Baysailer]

RIGGING ONLY has good prices.
I have a bunch of sta-lok fittings and 1/19wire for sale in the classified might fit your boat.

[witzgall]

I would second rigging only. They are great to work with, know their stuff, and have good prices. They built a new headstay for me, suggesting a swaged lower fitting, as it was inside the furler, to avoid potential loosening from the rotations. I used a himod for the top fitting - easy to install. I have since installed two himod insulators on the backstay, purchased from them, with good results.

Chris

[Shoalcove]

I replaced my rigging using HiMods a couple years ago. Easy to use and good service from Rigging Only. So far, no complaints- the mast stayed up!

[blahman]

Originally Posted by Feral Cement

And if you have any installation tips, I'd love to hear your info.

John,

We rerigged out W32 with Hi-Mod terminals; they're fantastic and easy to use. We found using a cut off wheel on an angle grinder to be the fastest and easiest method to cut the wire (9/32" for us). Cut lightly and the strands will all be clean and separate easily.

Use a leather glove or some dense material to twist the wire strands counter clockwise from the end; they'll open perfectly 9/10 times.

Use a blue thread locker on the Hi-Mod's threads.

Cheers,
Aaron

[Orion Jim]

It was my experience that a mixture of STA-LOK and Hi-MOD was necessary as I did not want to change any existing clevis pin diameters nor did I wish to ream any existing clevis holes to a larger size. All size pins are not available in each product line. I did not mix fittings on a particular stay. I have eleven pieces of standing rigging since I have a cutter rig. Check the pin diameters carefully when planning your purchase. Both are excellent products, neither are cheap. I bought mine at Defender. Buy or order during the spring sale and save a lot of cash.